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A chance comment made at a photocopier seems to have been the “trigger” that led to an investigation of Franklin County Sheriff Pat Green, his subsequent resignation and the controversy that surrounds the case today, including the alleged theft of some charitable contributions meant to help needy children.
According to investigatory records released this week by Superior Court Judge Richard Baddour Jr., county Finance Director Chuck Murray made the comment to William Mitchell, a drug-enforcement deputy, back in December, 2009, that opened up the case.

Although preliminary and unofficial estimates put the loss to the county at $109,000 in the Pat Green scandal, taxpayers may not bear the full brunt of that loss.
As the sheriff, Green was a bonded employee and that bond should help reduce the loss. County finance director Chuck Murray said Friday that his office is still checking on how much the bond might cover but estimated it would pay between $25,000 and $45,000.

A voluminous report that details suspicions the county had about missing money at the sheriff’s office highlights the questionable nature by which Pat Green was documenting and keeping up with undercover drug money.
Police chiefs in the county, though, said such documentation — even when dealing with confidential informants and drug suspects — isn’t that hard to keep track of.

The Democratic Party’s executive committee will meet on Monday to recommend a new Register of Deeds.
And while the party is mum about the six people who have expressed interest in filling the unexpired term of Linda Stone, county resident Pete Andrews is running a public campaign for the office.
He is advertising for the post and released a biography.

BUNN — Town commissioners moved a step closer to addressing dilapidated houses and personnel matters during a workshop on Thursday night.
The informational session was prompted by lingering issues — dilapidated structures and the need to refine the town’s personnel policy.

A Louisburg man was sentenced Thursday to nearly two years in jail after being found guilty of assaulting a sheriff’s deputy.
Superior Court Judge Richard Baddour Jr., set the prison term on Thursday afternoon after a jury convicted Joe Williams of felony assault on a law enforcement officer inflicting serious injury and misdemeanor assault on a government official.

The District Attorney’s office will lose staff, including a legal assistant in Franklin County.
District Attorney Sam Currin said he hopes the incentive-driven volunteer retirements eliminate the need for any more cuts.
Each departing employee, Currin said, was eligible to retire.

OPINIONS/EDITORIALS

Over the next few weeks, we’re going to hear a lot about what happened at the county Sheriff’s Office and that’s as it should be.
But when all the particulars of who did what to whom — and where the money went — are details relegated to the history books, we must not lose sight of the critical question hanging over all this mess.

GOOD MORNING: No, I take that back, it’s not a good morning. The fact is that’s it’s a very sad morning for all of us here in Franklin County. It was just Wednesday that we learned that the ongoing investigation at the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department has raised questions regarding other county officials as well.

Wowee, what a week!
As you can imagine, it’s been quite a week around here.
The biggest — but certainly not the only — story this week is about former Sheriff Pat Green and the investigation that is swirling around his abrupt departure.

Dear Editor:
At the commissioners meeting Feb. 21, the vote not to approve “Special Election Resolution” for sheriff was based on incomplete information.
Only a partial estimate of cost was available from the Board of Elections. We must have preclearance from the federal government to be allowed to hold a special election that could take 90 days or more to get.

OBITUARIES

YOUNGSVILLE —Nicholas Anthony Gliatta Jr., 66, died Thursday, Feb. 17, 2011, at the VA Medical Center in Durham. A memorial service will be held Sunday, Feb. 27, at New Hope Baptist Church in New Albany, Miss., with Bro. Randy Futral officiating.

KITTRELL - S. Forrest “Dub” Smith, 99, a resident of 1956 Walter Grissom Road, died Thursday, Feb. 24, 2011, at his home. Funeral services will be held Sunday, Feb. 27, at 3 p.m. at Plank Chapel United Methodist Church by the Rev. Carol Dean and Dr. Carolyn Roy. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

LOUISBURG - Myrtle Wiggins Bailey, 85, died Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011 at her home. Funeral services were held Friday, Feb. 25, at Harris Chapel Baptist Church, with the Rev. Bill Haley and the Rev. Gary McNair officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.

WENDELL - Reba Holmes Pulley, 93, died Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011 at In-Patient Hospice of Wake County in Raleigh. Funeral service was held at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25, in the chapel of Bright Funeral Home, with the Rev. Danny Hayes and the Rev. J. Marshall Neathery officiating. Burial followed in Rolesville Baptist Church cemetery.

BUNN -- Conventional wisdom dictated that the Bunn Wildcats, if they were going to lose in the Class 2-A State Boys Basketball Playoffs, would probably be toppled by a tall, physical team that would push around the small-but-quick, hot-shooting Wildcats.
That didn’t prove to be the case Wednesday -- two days after Bunn had opened playoff action by cutting down a taller Carboro squad to its size.

PRIZE POSSESSION. Bunn High School’s Ashley Denton hangs on tight to the ball while on the floor during the Ladycats’ home matchup on Wednesday night against Graham in the second round of the Class 2-A Girls State Basketball Playoffs.

BUNN -- Bunn’s Ladycats have earned plenty of standing ovations during their historic 2010-11 prep basketball season.
None, however, came almost one hour after the final horn had sounded.
Until Wednesday.

CARY -- Underneath a busy landing pattern to the Raleigh-Durham International Airport, the Louisburg College baseball team took flight during a key diamond rematch Wednesday afternoon against Wake Tech.
Funny thing was, the Hurricanes were almost grounded back in Louisburg because of a bus problem.

LOUISBURG -- All season long, Louisburg College has built up to the crescendo that was Thursday’s regular season men’s basketball finale against Patrick Henry.
With an emotional, overflow crowd looking on, the Hurricanes said goodbye to Holton Gymnasium in style by stopping the Patriots by a 108-96 margin.

STEM -- Though it may cause some early-year headaches, every coach -- regardless of the sport -- wants to see his or her team reach its peak during the postseason.
And that’s exactly what happened for the 2010-11 version of the Franklinton High School girls basketball squad.

LOUISBURG -- Improved health and role definition have been paramount intangibles late in the season for the Louisburg College women’s basketball squad.
LC veteran head coach Mike Holloman knows his club will have to be at 100 percent in order to win the championship at the annual Region X Tournament, which begins this coming Friday at Lenoir Community College in Kinston.

HENDERSON -- The 2011 Vance-Granville Community College women’s volleyball team is starting to take shape after several current and former high school standouts signed national letters-of-intent to join the Vanguards.
One new Vanguard this fall will be Ashley Martin of Norlina, a senior at Warren New Tech High School, who has played outside hitter for the Warren County High School Eagles varsity squad.

Theodore and Kattie Clifton are celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary. They were married on Feb. 10, 1951 in Raleigh. Theodore retired from Raleigh Bonded Warehouse in 1992 after 38 years of service. Kattie has worked as a loving wife and mother. The couple has two daughters, Teresa Clifton of Greensboro and Sylvia Clifton of Raleigh, and two grandchildren, Talon and Jenna McMillan of Greensboro.

SCHOOLS/EDUCATION

What is Career and Technical Education (CTE)?
It’s a legitimate question since CTE is one of North Carolina’s best kept secrets.
Franklin County Schools Career and Technical Education strives to challenge students and effectively prepare them to live and work in a highly technological society as well as train students who wish to use learned skills in their community.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Franklin County sheriff’s deputies arrested a Franklinton man charged with possession of cocaine.
According to a report by Sgt. A.R. Roberts, he was traveling south on Winston Street at about 6 p.m. on Feb. 21 when he came upon a 1990 Ford Bronco with an expired registration.

Andrea Williams, case manager at Franklin Regional Medical Center, represented the hospital as a panelist for the Amedisys Hospice Growth Summit on Feb. 18. The national summit, “Insights from the Healthcare Community,” was held in Dallas.
“We were very proud to have Andrea represent Franklin Regional at this national event,” said Betsy Hunt, manager of case management.